Academic Engagement in Academic Engagement in Politics: Reflections from an Politics: Reflections from an Irish PerspectiveIrish PerspectiveOr….‘Educate, Agitate, Or….‘Educate, Agitate, Organise’Organise’

Dr. John BarryDr. John Barry

Queen’s University BelfastQueen’s University Belfast

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Educate, Agitate, Educate, Agitate, OrganiseOrganise

Rallying cry of progressive, left, Rallying cry of progressive, left, libertarian and anarchist groups for libertarian and anarchist groups for over a centuryover a century

Slogan of the ‘Industrial Worker’s of the Slogan of the ‘Industrial Worker’s of the World’ (IWW) Union, (known as the World’ (IWW) Union, (known as the ‘Wobblies’) circa 1910.‘Wobblies’) circa 1910.

But first…A word from But first…A word from one of our sponsors….one of our sponsors….

““Those who profess to favour freedom and yet depreciate agitation are men Those who profess to favour freedom and yet depreciate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning.... thunder and lightning.... Power concedes nothing without a demand. It Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and never will”. never has and never will”. Frederick Douglass, freed slave and anti-Frederick Douglass, freed slave and anti-slavery campaigner (1857)slavery campaigner (1857)

What is the role of the academic, the ‘public intellectual in such contexts of What is the role of the academic, the ‘public intellectual in such contexts of political struggle and activism?political struggle and activism?

Knowledge (is) power (leads to) responsibilityKnowledge (is) power (leads to) responsibility

How does my daytime job relate to my evening and weekend work?How does my daytime job relate to my evening and weekend work?

And vice versa? And vice versa?

‘‘Academic’ as in ‘its just academic’ – irrelevant, pastime – hobby, interesting Academic’ as in ‘its just academic’ – irrelevant, pastime – hobby, interesting but uselessbut useless

Teaching and ResearchTeaching and Research

Academic political activism and dangers of abusing one’s position in context of Academic political activism and dangers of abusing one’s position in context of teachingteaching

Begin from a view of my job as to teach and hopefully produce, critical, and Begin from a view of my job as to teach and hopefully produce, critical, and hopefully engaged, citizenshopefully engaged, citizens

‘‘Teaching politics, politically’ i.e. through free debate and argument, to give students Teaching politics, politically’ i.e. through free debate and argument, to give students the tools and experience and exercise to develop their own ideas, challenge minethe tools and experience and exercise to develop their own ideas, challenge mine

Not to produce, in the words of the former Vice Chancellor of my university, ‘Oven Not to produce, in the words of the former Vice Chancellor of my university, ‘Oven ready graduates’, ready to be slotted into the labour market.ready graduates’, ready to be slotted into the labour market.

Success is NOT that all my student think, act, vote ‘Green’ but WHATEVER political Success is NOT that all my student think, act, vote ‘Green’ but WHATEVER political position they take on this issue is one the is informed and reasoned, not position they take on this issue is one the is informed and reasoned, not unreflectiveunreflective

What is a university education for? Is it a business? A play of ‘skills dissemination’? What is a university education for? Is it a business? A play of ‘skills dissemination’? Or the latter plus a training ground for citizenship and individual political, social and Or the latter plus a training ground for citizenship and individual political, social and personal development? personal development?

Teaching and ResearchTeaching and ResearchProblems of being seen as too ‘partisan’, ‘ideological’ and therefore losing that most Problems of being seen as too ‘partisan’, ‘ideological’ and therefore losing that most

conventionally prized virtues of the academic – ‘neutrality’, ‘objectivity’ conventionally prized virtues of the academic – ‘neutrality’, ‘objectivity’

But… the unbiased listener is deaf – issue is contestation of ideas, values not But… the unbiased listener is deaf – issue is contestation of ideas, values not abandoning of one’s values and perspectivesabandoning of one’s values and perspectives

Academic peer review process (properly done)– very useful and important ‘quality Academic peer review process (properly done)– very useful and important ‘quality control’ on minimising purely ideologically biased research control’ on minimising purely ideologically biased research

but equally importantly helps protect one’s status as an academic from charges that but equally importantly helps protect one’s status as an academic from charges that one’s academic work is ‘corrupted’ by one’s activismone’s academic work is ‘corrupted’ by one’s activism

Political activism can help improve one’s scholarly work – do we think less of JS Mill’s Political activism can help improve one’s scholarly work – do we think less of JS Mill’s work because he agitated for women’s rights, but what of Heidegger’s work and his work because he agitated for women’s rights, but what of Heidegger’s work and his connection with the Nazis? connection with the Nazis?

In relation to many aspects of teaching sustainability politics or green politics, the In relation to many aspects of teaching sustainability politics or green politics, the outside world within which students live is already ideologically loaded, so critiques outside world within which students live is already ideologically loaded, so critiques of dominant knowledge/power structures is a small step to ‘rebalance’of dominant knowledge/power structures is a small step to ‘rebalance’

Northern Irish ContextNorthern Irish Context

Northern Ireland political context – post-conflict, ethno-nationalist dynamics, Northern Ireland political context – post-conflict, ethno-nationalist dynamics, consociational settlementconsociational settlement

OOften for first years that I teach, it’s the first time a ‘Catholic/nationalist’ has ften for first years that I teach, it’s the first time a ‘Catholic/nationalist’ has sat beside a ‘Protestant/unionist’sat beside a ‘Protestant/unionist’

Accents matterAccents matterUniversity as a non-engaged actor politically – a ‘safe haven’ from the University as a non-engaged actor politically – a ‘safe haven’ from the

surrounding conflictsurrounding conflictYou cannot ignore the political context…but of course most of the time it is You cannot ignore the political context…but of course most of the time it is

ignoredignoredPedagogic reasons for using/referring to the political conflict/settlement – like Pedagogic reasons for using/referring to the political conflict/settlement – like

references to popular culture (using The Sopranos to explain aspects of references to popular culture (using The Sopranos to explain aspects of Machiavelli), the conflict, peace process/settlement is a way to may the Machiavelli), the conflict, peace process/settlement is a way to may the abstract real for students abstract real for students

Small size of Northern Ireland – a village, everyone knows one another – one Small size of Northern Ireland – a village, everyone knows one another – one cannot hide one’s public political activism, so best to simply be honest cannot hide one’s public political activism, so best to simply be honest and open about itand open about it

Some personal Some personal reflectionsreflections

On one hand, being an academic is not good for a ‘conventional’ On one hand, being an academic is not good for a ‘conventional’ political career – we’re not dogmatic enough! Everything is political career – we’re not dogmatic enough! Everything is provisional, and needs to be qualified and as academics we tend provisional, and needs to be qualified and as academics we tend to be interested in the complicated not the simple, and we tend not to be interested in the complicated not the simple, and we tend not to like to toe ‘party lines’ arbitrarily! to like to toe ‘party lines’ arbitrarily!

Hard lesson I learnt in relation to press releases – remove the Hard lesson I learnt in relation to press releases – remove the footnotes!!footnotes!!

But also, as an academic I am unusual as a politician in that on the But also, as an academic I am unusual as a politician in that on the basis of new evidence or argument I am willing to change my basis of new evidence or argument I am willing to change my view, and also to acknowledge the virtues (few as they are!) in the view, and also to acknowledge the virtues (few as they are!) in the views of my opponentsviews of my opponents

And also, in part as an academic, I ‘play the ball, not the player’, keep And also, in part as an academic, I ‘play the ball, not the player’, keep the debate/argument focused on the issue not the personthe debate/argument focused on the issue not the person

Past struggles for justice Past struggles for justice and social changeand social change

What we’re struggling What we’re struggling against…? against…?

What are we struggling What are we struggling for?for?

OK, so what does it meanOK, so what does it mean

Educate…Educate…

1. Problem of ignorance…1. Problem of ignorance…‘‘The unexamined life is not worth living’ SocratesThe unexamined life is not worth living’ Socrates(Most) people don’t willfully seek to destroy the (Most) people don’t willfully seek to destroy the

planet and exploit and harm other peopleplanet and exploit and harm other people2. Issue of 2. Issue of structuresstructures and individual and and individual and

collective action and behaviour – state, market, collective action and behaviour – state, market, mainstream culture etc.mainstream culture etc.

3. Leads to problem of mindlessness…3. Leads to problem of mindlessness…Example of ‘mindless consumption’Example of ‘mindless consumption’

Educate…Educate…

4. Ignorance, apathy and elite dominance…4. Ignorance, apathy and elite dominance…Crisis of democratic politics – Crisis of democratic politics –

a. decline in voting, participation in politicsa. decline in voting, participation in politicsb. eclipse of being a ‘citizen’ by ‘consumer’ identityb. eclipse of being a ‘citizen’ by ‘consumer’ identitye.g. of US President Bush’s urge to Americans post e.g. of US President Bush’s urge to Americans post 9/11 to ‘go to the malls’9/11 to ‘go to the malls’c. consumer society – a betrayal of the Republic? Of c. consumer society – a betrayal of the Republic? Of democracy?democracy?

Issue is achieving balance between consumerism and Issue is achieving balance between consumerism and democratic citizenshipdemocratic citizenship

Remembering that democracy Remembering that democracy DOES NOTDOES NOT require require consumerism or excessive material affluenceconsumerism or excessive material affluence

Agitate…Agitate…

Critique of the current ‘new world order’Critique of the current ‘new world order’Free your mind …Free your mind …And have fun while doing it! And have fun while doing it!

Role/ responsibility of academics in giving Role/ responsibility of academics in giving students/citizens the critical skills, students/citizens the critical skills, education, tools to know how to be education, tools to know how to be politically activepolitically active

From adbusters.comFrom adbusters.com

Pop a pill for every ill…Pop a pill for every ill…

More profit in illness, More profit in illness, stress, mental illness stress, mental illness than health and well-than health and well-being…being…

TV, advertising, marketing TV, advertising, marketing etc. is a significant part etc. is a significant part of the political of the political environment in which we environment in which we live and operate…so get live and operate…so get to know it!to know it!

Lessons from the Zapatistas Lessons from the Zapatistas – know your environment!– know your environment!

Organise…Organise…

Individual action alone insufficientIndividual action alone insufficientDanger of ‘lifestyle politics’ – consuming green products Danger of ‘lifestyle politics’ – consuming green products

WILL NOT create a sustainable and just societyWILL NOT create a sustainable and just societyNecessary but not sufficientNecessary but not sufficientAlso, there is no ‘one size fits all’ model of a just, Also, there is no ‘one size fits all’ model of a just,

sustainable society, value of pluralismsustainable society, value of pluralismNeed to organise politically and act collectivelyNeed to organise politically and act collectivelyIndividual action alone will not change state or corporate Individual action alone will not change state or corporate

behaviour and policiesbehaviour and policiesNon-violent direct action as a strategy… this is what Non-violent direct action as a strategy… this is what

democracy looks like….democracy looks like….

This is what democracy This is what democracy looks like….looks like….

Conclusion Conclusion

Academic engagement in politics – obligatory or Academic engagement in politics – obligatory or voluntary? voluntary?

““being an activist is my rent I pay for living on this planet”, being an activist is my rent I pay for living on this planet”, Alice WalkerAlice Walker

Many ways for scholars to be active in politics – from Many ways for scholars to be active in politics – from standing for elections to canvassing for candidates to standing for elections to canvassing for candidates to providing knowledge/information, writing providing knowledge/information, writing letters/columns in the press letters/columns in the press

Rationale for courses in PhD training on this issue? Rationale for courses in PhD training on this issue? Alongside courses on how to communicate with the Alongside courses on how to communicate with the public/write policy briefs for decision-makers?public/write policy briefs for decision-makers?

Take your pick…Educate, agitate, organise!Take your pick…Educate, agitate, organise!

New Thinking and New Thinking and CreativityCreativity

The thinking which got The thinking which got us into the problem us into the problem cannot be the same cannot be the same we need to solve it.we need to solve it.

Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein